Socket connection for electrical conductors



May 12, 1931. I A, wxc E 1,804,908

SOCKET CONNECTION FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed April 23, 1927 Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT rric P ALFRED WICHERT, F MANNI-IEIM-NEUOSTHEIM, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 AKTIEN- GESELLSCHAFT BROWN BOVEE-I & CIEL, OF BADEN, SWITZERLAND, A JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF SWTZERLAND e SOCKET CONNECTION FOR ELECTRICAL CONDlJ'C'IDRS Application filed April 23, 1927, Serial No. 186 ,113, and in Germany May 1, 1926.

This invention relates to devices in which connections are made between electrical conductors by. the joining of two terminal members such as a socket and a plug adapted for "'5 mechanical connection tov hold contacts of the connected lines in engagement.

. The general object of the invention is the provision of a connecting device of this type which is of simple construction, reliable in both tohold the contact-carrying members connected, and to operate and secure a suitable movable cover for closing the open end of the socket member when the plug'member is not connected thereto.

Other and further objects will be indicated or'pointed out hereinafter, or will appear to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the invention andits em ing electrical conductors, it is important operation, and. which requires a minimum;

that the terminal contact-carrying members be susceptible of connection and disconnection from each other quickly and with minimum effort, and thatwhile connected they be securely retainedin the proper cooperation.

lar importance, is for the connection of electrical conductors between coupled cars in a railway train. The-present invention at tords a device in which the coupling and uncoupling operations may be performed with case and simplicity, thus contributing to certainty that the contact-carrying members will be positively held when desired, and completely freed from each other when it may be desired to-separate the two conductors. The nature of the'invention'will be quickly ascertained from the illustrative form shown in the drawings. Here the plug member, which carries the electrical terminals orcontact members of a conductor or set of conductors, isdeSignatedlOQand the socket partof the connector is designated 11.

and cover 28 is similarly limited by a stop 30.

One use of such connecting devices, 'lIl'Wh1Ci1 these requirements are of particu- :5 ployment in use. An operating lever 12 is pivoted on the In the drawings forming a part f this socket memberat l4, and it is capableof a specification, I illustrate two constructions longltudin'el movement the piv along in which the invention may be embodied, the slot 15, against the action of a'spring 16. but it is to be understood that the illustra- This lever carries a catch pawl 17, pivoted tive 'forms here shown are susceptible of vaat 19, Which pawl carries a pin 18. The riation and modification without departing Catch pawl is held normally in the position from the spirit of the invention or the scope hOW-Il inF gl by a Spring 20 whichbear's of the appended claims. against" the pin 18 and'a' second pin 21 at- N In said drawings, ta'ched to the lever. The .catch'pawl is.

Fig.1 represents a side elevational view p vided W h a I'B SSF adaptedroenoi the socket member with the plug memgage with either pin 24, carried on the supber in place and the operating mechanis porting arm 23 of cover 28, or a pin 25 proin elevated position; b jecting' radially from the plug 10. Two

Fig. 2 represents a similar side eleva t p 26 n r pr ed 011 the pera tional view with the operating mechanism in ng l ver l2 and Cover 28 respectively and securing position; adapted for engagement in certain relative Fig. 3 represents a similar side elevation pOSitlOIlS of 3 56 members- The cover is of the socket member with the cover in pivoted at 1431161 y w ng to an elevated closed position and the operating means in Position HS illustrated ill gs 1 n 2 1" t0 securing position; a lowered position as in Fig. 3, in which Fig. 4: is a detail of the catch pawl; and latter position it closes the end of the socket I Fig. 5 is a rear elevational View showing a e The p movement of the modified form of operating mechanism. cover is limited by a st0p'29,-a h wn- In various connecting devices for connectward movement of both operating lever 12 In operation of the device, when it is desired to connect the plug and socket me1nbers, the operating lever 12 is first swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. l and plug 10 inserted into the socket member. The operating lever 12 is then swung downwardly, which brings the catch pawl 17 into engagement with the pin 24% on the cover 28, but owing to the elasticity of the spring 20 and the fact that the cover is held against downward movement by the plug 10, the catch pawl will be allowed to pass over the pin 24, during which action a corresponding outward and return movement of the lever will take place, as provided by the pin and slot mounting 1 1-15 therefor and the associated spring 16. Further movement of the operating lever brings the catch pawl into engagement with the pin 25 on the plug 10, so that the latter is forced into closeengagement with the socket. The force transmitted through the catch pawl 17 is transmitted to the lever 12 and causes it to take a longitudinal movement on the pivot 14 and compress the spring 16, the

pressure of said spring thus being exerted through the lever and upon the plug in a direction holding it in position. After the dead point of the toggle, that is, the position in which the points 19, 25 and 14 are in a straight line, is passed, then the lever 12 will be held in its limit position against the stopv 30 by the force exerted by the spring 16. To release the plug, operating lever 12 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, after which the plug may be withdrawn. WVhen the plug is not in place in the socket'member, the cover may be moved to and from closed position by operation of the operating lever. To effect a closure, the lever 12 is swung downwardly, bringing the catch pawl 17 into engagement with the pin 24, and swinging the cover downwardly by virtue of that engagement. The cover is forced on to the socket 11 and held in position in exactly the same way as above described for the plug. On the raising of the lever 12, the catch pawl releases from the pin 24, and on further movement of the lever, the stop 26 comes into contact with stop 27 on the cover, whereupon the latter may be raised by the continued upward movement of the lever, until it again rests against stop 29.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the lever is shown at one side of the coupling, but it may be duplicated at the other side and the two levers connected by a cross yoke 81. This permits operation of the device with facility from either side.

What I claim is:

l. A connecting device for electrical conductors comprising, in combination, a socket member, a movable plug member for cooperation therewith, a movable cover for the;

socket member, and an operating member for cooperation with the plug member to hold it in position and for cooperation with the cover member to move it to and from closed position.

2. A connection for electrical conductors comprising, in combination, a socket member, a plug member, a cover member, an operating member common with respect to said plug and cover members and being operable to etlect movement of said plug member into connecting association with said socket membar and to effect closing movement of said cover member, and spring means associated with said operating member and being operable to influence operating action thereof.

3. A connection for electrical conductors comprising, in combination, a socket member, a plug member for connection therewith, a movable cover member for the socket member, and on operating member for engagement with the cover member to move it to closed and open positions, said operatin member being adapted for holding engagement with the plug member.

1. A. connection for electrical conductors comprising, in combination, a socket member, a plug member disposed for movement into and out of connecting association with said socket member, a closure member for said socket member and means common with respect to said plug and closure members and being operable to effect connecting movement of said plug member and closing movement of said closure member and including an operating member, a pawl carried said operating-member and disposed for engagement with either said plug member or said closure member, and spring means for influencing operating action of said pawl.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of April, A. D. 1927, at Munich, Germany.

ALFRED WICHERT. 

